Mr. Spears spent some of his district’s share of money from the BP oil spill settlement and other discretionary funds on a Christmas parade, a suite at the Zurich Classic Golf Tournament and the West Bank Heritage Festival, according to an investigation by WVUE Fox 8 News.

He ended up as grand marshal of the parade and hanging out in the suite, which other council members said they knew nothing about. The festival has ties to some of Mr. Spears’ friends and has been cited by the Legislative Auditor’s Office for improper spending, Fox reported.

Shell’s recent success in the US Gulf of Mexico includes its deepwater Dover discovery on Mississippi Canyon 612, reported last year, near its Appomattox platform. The well was drilled by the Deepwater Poseidon ultra-deepwater drillship. Sources: Shell, Transocean.

In lieu of the traditional shovel groundbreaking, Miami City Commission chair Ken Russell, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Miami city manager Emilio T. Gonzalez (pictured l-r) perform the ceremonial water toss to mark the start of the first Miami Forever Bond project tackling flooding and sea-level rise. (Photo by City of Miami Office of Communications)